Removal of Nanoparticles by Surface Nanobubbles Generated via Solvent-Water Exchange: A Critical Perspective.

The swift progression of technology in electronic fabrication is adhering to a trend of miniaturization, descending to the nanoscale. Surface contaminants, such as nanoparticles, can influence the performance of silicon wafers, thereby necessitating the evolution of novel cleaning methodologies. Surface nanobubbles (SNs) are phenomena that have attracted considerable attention over the past decade.

Unraveling a Molecular Adhesion Mechanism at Complex Polymer-Metal Interfaces.

Controlling polymer-metal adhesion is critical in ensuring that materials can be cleanly separated during production processes without residue, which is crucial for various industrial applications. Accurately characterizing adhesion on industrial-grade surfaces is complex due to factors like surface roughness and actual contact area between surfaces and the polymer. In this study, we quantified the adhesive behavior of stainless-steel samples with varying surface treatments against a polymer using the surface forces apparatus (SFA) in reflection geometry, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Correction: Ostermann et al. Development and Up-Scaling of Electrochemical Production and Mild Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide. 2022, , 4639.

In the original publication [...

Real-time visualisation of ion exchange in molecularly confined spaces where electric double layers overlap.

Ion interactions with interfaces and transport in confined spaces, where electric double layers overlap, are essential in many areas, ranging from crevice corrosion to understanding and creating nano-fluidic devices at the sub 10 nm scale. Tracking the spatial and temporal evolution of ion exchange, as well as local surface potentials, in such extreme confinement situations is both experimentally and theoretically challenging. Here, we track in real-time the transport processes of ionic species (LiClO) confined between a negatively charged mica surface and an electrochemically modulated gold surface using a high-speed sensing Surface Forces Apparatus.

l-Ascorbic Acid Treatment of Electrochemical Graphene Nanosheets: Reduction Optimization and Application for De-Icing, Water Uptake Prevention, and Corrosion Resistance.

The aeronautical industry demands facile lightweight and low-cost solutions to address climate crisis challenges. Graphene can be a valid candidate to tackle these functionalities, although its upscalability remains difficult to achieve. Consequently, graphene-related materials (GRM) are gathering massive attention as top-down graphite exfoliation processes at the industrial scale are feasible and often employed.

Lightning Strike Protection: Current Challenges and Future Possibilities.

An airplane is statistically struck by lightning every year. The need for lightweight aircraft to reduce the production of carbon dioxide has significantly reduced the presence of metals in favour of composites, resulting in lower lightning strike protection efficiency. In this perspective, we critically review the state of technologies in lightning strike protection solutions based on carbon materials, graphene, and MXenes.

Closed-Pore Formation in Oxygen Electrodes for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells Investigated by Impedance Spectroscopy.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the chemical capacitance of LaSrCoO (LSC) thin-film electrodes under anodic polarization (i.e., in the electrolysis mode).

Formation and Detection of High-Pressure Oxygen in Closed Pores of LaSrCoO Solid Oxide Electrolysis Anodes.

The chemical capacitance of LaSrCoO (LSC) thin film microelectrodes with different microstructures was investigated upon varying anodic DC voltages. Dense and porous electrodes (open porosity) were prepared by using different parameters during pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Furthermore, electrodes with closed porosity were fabricated by depositing a dense capping layer on a porous film.

Development and Up-Scaling of Electrochemical Production and Mild Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide.

To reduce the global emissions of CO2, the aviation industry largely relies on new light weight materials, which require multifunctional coatings. Graphene and its derivatives are particularly promising for combining light weight applications with functional coatings. Although they have proven to have outstanding properties, graphene and its precursor graphene oxide (GO) remain far from application at the industrial scale since a comprehensive protocol for mass production is still lacking.

The Interaction of Waterborne Epoxy/Dicyandiamide Varnishes with Metal Oxides.

For delayed crosslinking of waterborne epoxy varnishes, dicyandiamide (DICY) is often used as a latent curing agent. While, for amine-based curing agents such as diaminoethane (DAE), chemical interactions with metal oxides are well described, so far, no studies have been performed for DICY and waterborne epoxy varnishes. Hence, in this work X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate reactions of DICY and varnishes with technical surfaces of Al, Zn, and Sn.

Responses of the Pheromone-Binding Protein of the Silk Moth on a Graphene Biosensor Match Binding Constants in Solution.

An electronic biosensor for odors was assembled by immobilizing the silk moth pheromone binding protein (BmorPBP1) on a reduced graphene oxide surface of a field-effect transistor. At physiological pH, the sensor detects the pheromones, bombykol and bombykal, with good affinity and specificity. Among the other odorants tested, only eugenol elicited a strong signal, while terpenoids and other odorants (linalool, geraniol, isoamyl acetate, and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine) produced only very weak responses.

Development of a specific troponin I detection system with enhanced immune sensitivity using a single monoclonal antibody.

Using an immunoassay in combination with surface plasmon fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS), we report the rapid detection of troponin I, a valuable biomarker for diagnosis of myocardial infarction. We discuss the implementation of (i) direct, (ii) sandwich, and (iii) competitive assay formats, based on surface plasmon resonance and SPFS. To elucidate the results, we relate the experiments to orientation-dependent interaction of troponin I epitopes with respective immunoglobulin G antibodies.

Nanoporous thin films in optical waveguide spectroscopy for chemical analytics.

Spectroscopy with planar optical waveguides is still an active field of research for the quantitative analysis of various supramolecular surface architectures and processes, and for applications in integrated optical chip communication, direct chemical sensing, etc. In this contribution, we summarize some recent development in optical waveguide spectroscopy using nanoporous thin films as the planar substrates that can guide the light just as well as bulk thin films. This is because the nanoporosity is at a spacial length-scale that is far below the wavelength of the guided light; hence, it does not lead to an enhanced scattering or additional losses of the optical guided modes.

Basic properties mapping of anodic oxides in the hafnium-niobium-tantalum ternary system.

A thin film combinatorial library deposited by co-sputtering of Hf, Nb and Ta was employed to characterise fundamental properties of the Hf-Nb-Ta system. Compositional mappings of microstructure and crystallography revealed similarities in alloy evolution. Distinct lattice distortion was observed upon addition of hexagonal Hf, leading to amorphisation of alloys containing more than 32 at.

In situ PM-IRRAS of a glassy carbon electrode/deep eutectic solvent interface.

The interface of a 1 : 2 molar choline chloride/ethylene glycol deep eutectic solvent with a glassy carbon electrode has been investigated by polarization modulation reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). Temporal spectral changes at open circuit potential show the experiments to be surface sensitive and indicate slow adsorption of electrolyte molecules on the electrode surface. In situ spectroelectrochemical PM-IRRAS measurements reveal characteristic potential-dependent changes of band intensities and wavenumber-shifts in the surface spectra.

Mechanistic approaches on the antibacterial activity of poly(acrylic acid) copolymers.

The availability of polymeric antimicrobially active surfaces, which are mainly based on cationic surface effects, is limited. We have previously reported the discovery that, in addition to cationic surfaces, anionic surfaces based on poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) copolymers have a bactericidal effect. In this study, poly(styrene)-poly(acrylic acid)-diblock copolymers (PS-b-PAA) are used to describe the major variables causing the material to have a bactericidal effect on Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 in aqueous suspensions.

An experimental set-up to apply polarization modulation to infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy for improved in situ studies of atmospheric corrosion processes.

A new set-up for improved monitoring of atmospheric corrosion processes in situ and in real-time is presented. To characterize chemical structures of thin films on metal surfaces surface sensitive analytical techniques are required. One possible technique is Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS) which has become an established method to investigate surface corrosion films of thicknesses less than 200 nm.

Separation of 1,3-substituted imidazoles for quality control of a Lewis acidic ionic liquid for aluminum electroplating.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are already used or have great potential in many industrial applications. Knowledge about their unique physicochemical characteristics makes ILs suitable for the electrodeposition of metals with very low negative potentials. Aluminum with its good corrosion protection behavior has great capability to be electroplated from IL electrolytes on steel substrates.